Sacred Art & Iconography
Bhairava Ritual Mask (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2012.444.2)
Gilded copper, rock crystal and paint, Nepal, 16th century, Metropolitan Museum of Art 2012.444.2
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A gilded copper ritual mask titled simply "Bhairava," with rock crystal and paint, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, Malla period, 16th century. Bhairava, the fierce form of Shiva, is shown with bulging crystal eyes, bared fangs and a flame-like crown of skulls, the standard iconography of a Newar festival dance mask. Held today by the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession 2012.444.2, Asian Art department.
Facts
Custody
Current LocationThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 1 Current CustodianThe Metropolitan Museum of Art 1 Custody HistoryZimmerman Family Collection, Gift of the Zimmerman Family, 2012 1 Attributions
TraditionHindu and Newar Buddhist ritual tradition of the Kathmandu Valley 1 Origins
Date of Creation RegionKathmandu Valley (Nepal) 1 Subject Matter
Depicted SubjectBhairava, the fierce form of the Hindu god Shiva also venerated in Newar Buddhist practice 1 Physical Form
MediumGilded copper, rock crystal, paint 1 DimensionsH. 32 in. (81.3 cm); W. 36 in. (91.4 cm); D. 14 in. (35.6 cm) 1 Rights and Reproduction
Reproduction and CopyrightThe Metropolitan Museum of Art has designated this work as being in the public domain and makes it available through its Open Access policy; no permission is required for reproduction. 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names Newar directly: "skulls, the standard iconography of a Newar festival dance mask."
Belongs to Tradition
Depicts
The Met's own title for this mask is the bare subject name, "Bhairava," with no other reading possible.
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